Charges filed against former Russian defense chief

FILE - In this Sunday, May 8, 2011 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and then Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov speak during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of the Victory Day, which is celebrated on May 9 in Moscow. Russia's main investig

The Associated Press

FILE - In this Sunday, May 8, 2011 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and then Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov speak during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of the Victory Day, which is celebrated on May 9 in Moscow. Russia's main investigative agency has filed charges against the former defense minister, accusing him of using servicemen and government funds to build a road to a vacation home and do landscaping work on the property. If convicted, Serdyukov could face up to five years in prison. President Vladimir Putin fired Serdyukov a year ago over a corruption scandal, but most military experts believed his ouster reflected a behind-the-scenes power struggle. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, May 8, 2011 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and then Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov speak during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of the Victory Day, which is celebrated on May 9 in Moscow. Russia's main investigative agency has filed charges against the former defense minister, accusing him of using servicemen and government funds to build a road to a vacation home and do landscaping work on the property. If convicted, Serdyukov could face up to five years in prison. President Vladimir Putin fired Serdyukov a year ago over a corruption scandal, but most military experts believed his ouster reflected a behind-the-scenes power struggle. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel, File) (The Associated Press)

LYNN BERRY Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Criminal charges were filed Thursday against Russia's former defense minister, who was accused of using servicemen and government funds to build a road to a vacation home and do landscaping work on the property.

If convicted, Anatoly Serdyukov could face up to five years in prison.

President Vladimir Putin fired Serdyukov a year ago over a corruption scandal, but most military experts believed his ouster reflected a behind-the-scenes power struggle. In overseeing a radical reform of Russia's armed forces, Serdyukov had drastically cut the number of officers and demanded higher quality and cheaper prices from defense industries.

A close ally of Serdyukov's was charged last year with fraud, but Serdyukov had been spared until Thursday, when Russia's main investigative agency charged him with negligence.

Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said in a statement that Serdyukov had used railroad troops to build a road to an island in the southern Astrakhan region and conscripts from an aviation unit to do landscaping around a vacation home there. "So instead of serving and being trained in military affairs, some soldiers were busy planting poplar trees," Markin said.

It was only during this year's investigation that the property was put on the Defense Ministry's books, the spokesman said.

Serdyukov had caused damages to the state of 56 million rubles ($1.7 million), Markin said, adding that the investigation was still under way and more charges could be filed.

A former furniture salesman, Serdyukov had entered public service as a tax official and quickly rose through the ranks to become head of the Russian tax service before being appointed defense minister in 2007.